The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-31
A BAD DISEASE.
A Fair Compromise Offered to Seek.
ers After New Court Houses.

FufnleT' s TTtchu.
There has been morbid desire prevailing
in South Carolina for some years past for the
introduction of some new project. The peo-
pie imagine that they smell something rich
floating about In the air that they have never
been able to get hold of. They don't know
just what 1t Is, but they think 1t would be
worth millions TO them If they could once
get up with 1t. In pursuit OF this imaginary
fortune, the old customs and institutions are
wiped out and new ones substituted. The de-
sire is To abolish the old rugged cart-roads
and bypaths OF our grnnddaddcs, and open
up broad, rosy avenues, leading to some un-
discovered paradise of wealth and ease.
Sometimes this malady takes hold OF the
whole state, while at other times IL works
only in spots. But it always prevails to Il
greater or less extent somewhere within the
States borders. 1t Is only few years since IT
took the State by the heels and knocked
down al the fences and swept all the poor
hogs and cattle out of the woods. The Char
lesion aldermen have had II so badly OF late
that they have concluded TO concentrate the
entire flredepartment in one OF the city parks,
and now speak OF moving the city itself over
to Sullivans Island for the convenience of
Northern tourists " no pass through on route
for Florida during the winter season.
The disease has worked its way into this
section, and Is showing itself In the shape of II
hunlering for more government-or more
general distribution of the immediate intiu-
ences Of government. it is thought that this
result can best be accomplished by increasing
the number of county seats-by establishing
u county sctlt In every ncighborbood, with a
courthouse, jail ana Guil SET OF county
officials for each.
one of the spots afflicted with this longing
Is Bisliopvilic. She wants rev county Great
ed from parts Of Sumter and Darlington coun-
ties, and she wants to furnish the seat Flor
cnce Is also afflicted, and county seat Is
prescribed as u cure. 1t is proposed 10 create
IL new county out of parts OF Marion and
Darlington counties, with headquarters at
Florence. Darlington is deadly opposed to
this move, but Florence Is wild for 1t, and the
papers and the woods are full of county seat
discussion. There is nothing so desirable
lust now as county seats. They are useful
articles and every family that wants one
should have it. II every family had court.
house and Il Jail at It's door our oppressed and
long. suffering citizens would he saved the In
convenience Vf riding fifteen or twenty miles
to meet their friends and swap horses on
salesday. And the poor, Insignificant chicken
thief would not have to 60 all the way 10
Darlington in the hot sunshine 10 get nto
iaIi He could capture his chick kcns Tonight
and let his good wife bring them to him In
the jail 10 eat for dinner tomorrow. Would
not this be an improvement on the oId plan
careSsrS and soothing influences OF his family,
without even the hope of ever tasting tic
fruits OF his nights loraging tour'
Timmonsvillc has not put In her claim for a
new county seat yet. She Is Iimply looisiny
ON at the contest between Florence and Dar-
llngton In diSintcrestcd Kind OF way. But
If an opportunity offers for her to get in II
word cdSeWlsc. anu inc PfeEal'inB eiNeiise sCt-
ties down upon her, she may come IN later In
the season. The three towns OF Tlmnons-
Vile, darlington and Florence are peculiarly
situated, within about twelve miles of CaclI
other. If Iimmonsviic should come into the
cnntest and all three Of the towns should be-
come county seals, wouldn't we have dead
loads of government and law and the like in
this section? And it would tighten up the
labors SO much OF our present orerwUrked
county officials; 10 say nothing of the en- mpioy
mcnt il would give other lcng-SuilerinG pa
tr!ntic citizens. who are anxious to serve
their beloved county and State.
But in case no other conclusion could be
reuchcd and we have 10 strike n line of COM
promise how would this sort Of an arrange
inent do? Leave the old county 10 stand in-
tact. and divide the patronage among the
three towns. For instance give Florence The
iail, Tlmmonsville the courthouse and Dar-
Ilngtun the market house. This wonld seem
To be u pretty fair division, and would be
something new all around.